Farmers
are at the beginning of the seed-saving effort. Native Seeds/SEARCH
staff collect seed directly from farmers in their fields, and at farm and
market stands. They then catalogue it in preparation for cleaning and storage.
Here, bags of corn sit on a table, waiting to be processed. Along with seeds
for food crops, the collection at NS/S includes other plants that are used
for clothing and rituals, as well as wild relatives from which some of the
crops have been bred.